[Craft shit, Ableist shit] Gods, Ravelry, you really fucked up bad.

For non Rav peeps. In late June Rav did a site update, complete design overhaul without warning. Tons of people started reporting issues, similar to what happened with dw.

Rav keeps talking about how much they love the new design, and lock/remove posts on the forums about the issues people are having. Eventually, they start talking about readability/accessibility as something they want to approve with the new design. They do some minor improvements but they are minor.

Then they start shitting down all communication on the forums about the issues saying people need to email them. Then at the end last week one of the two main people behind the site sends responses to the people who have brought up issues. In those emails they call people liars.

There is also reports of nasty tweets, siccing family members on people who speak out, gaslighting etc.

They have really fucked up a lot of the good will people were willing to give them.

Myself included. Which sucks because I have spent a lot of time on Ravelry and love the way it works.

But with this I am out.

I’m really disappointed

Aw fuck. That’s awful

Yeah. I don't hate the look of the new design, but I do get the headaches and eyeaches others describe

They have a toggle to old rav style there

I mean they fucked up

ut like.

there was an issue to get out of it RIGHT THERE from launch too

The handling was SHIT though and I am furious

they've put up a very long post on the homepage about what went on and have removed the person who sent out those messages from access to the customer service email

(long story short, they say they want to make the accessibility issues the top priority of redesigns and know that their response has been badly handled and made people feel unwelcome. It sounds like they shut down the forum posts to make it easier for them to compile and respond to feedback, without thinking how dreadful that looks.)

of course, what anyone makes of all that is up to us

It's such a stupid thing for them to have dug their heels in on. Ok, you invested a lot of time and money into something that, for some reason, nobody found accessibility problems in. just roll it back, or promise to keep the old style as an option until the issues are fixed.

Why make it into a huge problem for themselves at all????

I don't like the new style but I'd learn to deal with it, but I don't have accessibility issues with it. If people do, that should be the biggest priority for a site that has built itself around community the way Ravelry has.

well fuck

I really liked Ravelry too

oh nooooooo

that's so baffling like.

why? literally why

why not just roll back the fucking design

or at the very least do the usual "corporate bare minimum" thing where you post some insincere BS about your desire to change in the future

that would literally be better than harassment, gaslighting, and accusations. wtf is the point, those fucking morons

Yeah. I mean if the post that is currently at the top of the page had come a month ago it would have been better.